Family escapes fire near Bowerston

A family near Bowerston is very thankful this Thanksgiving to have escaped a fire that destroyed their home Saturday evening on Plum Run Road.

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Nancy Schaar
TimesReporter.com correspondent

Times Reporter

Nancy Schaar
TimesReporter.com correspondent

Posted Nov. 27, 2013 at 8:53 AM

Nancy Schaar
TimesReporter.com correspondent

Posted Nov. 27, 2013 at 8:53 AM

A family near Bowerston is very thankful this Thanksgiving to have escaped a fire that destroyed their home Saturday evening on Plum Run Road.

Dick McMath was taking a nap about 6 p.m. when he heard a loud pop that woke him up. He saw that an electrical outlet on the wall was burning. The fire quickly spread to the wall, a dresser, and the bed. McMath's wife, Saundra, also was home at the time of the fire and was able to help her husband from the home.

Fire departments from Bowerston, Leesville, Sherrodsville, and Tippecanoe all responded to the scene. A representative from the state Fire Marshal's office was at the site Monday but did not make a determination of the cause yet, according to Saundra.

Saundra suffered burns to her hands. Dick was not injured. They did lose the family cat in the fire, but the family dog is fine. Dick was taken to an emergency room because he was having trouble breathing. Saundra said he had inhaled a lot of smoke. Dick suffers from emphysema, COPD, and Alpha 1 Disease.

The couple is staying with Saundra's brother and his wife, Ron and Sarah Grezlik, also of Plum Run.

"The fire department was there almost immediately it seems. We lost everything. But my son, Matt Eckhardt, had a Bible in a trunk. There were a few clothes in the trunk too. The clothes were frozen with water and smelled really bad from the smoke but the Bible was untouched and doesn't even have a smoky smell," said Saundra.

Saundra thanked everyone who has brought clothes and helped them during the last couple of days. They will stay with Saundra's brother until another home is found. The home was insured but a value has not been set by the insurance company yet, but is a total loss, according to Saundra.

Donations or gift cards to help the family may be sent to Saundra McMath at 89430 Plum Run Road, Uhrichsville, OH 44683.